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Knock knock...Whos there?...Oh hi, I was just wondering if the Toyota Corolla was for sale?


volvoman

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No, this is not a fail on an old knock knock joke.

Its my 1st of the new year,  knock/begging for a car type thread/situation...I dont do this sort of thing that often, but if i see a car i like (even if it shows no signs of being for sale) i will knock on various doors to find the owner, an ask them politely, if said car could be for sale. Most of the time, i fail, but once or twice, i do get lucky.

I cant be alone in this knocking game...so come on guys, tell us the best (or worst) knocking/begging for a car story, that you have had yourselves???

The car in question, was a R. Reg. Toyota Corolla G6...it caught my eye(being the G6 version)...looked a little rough around the edges, dirty as shit, but since i bought 2 Starlets last year, im kinder looking at Toyotas in a new light now (normally i knock for pre 2000 Volvos).

 

So, after knocking on 3 doors, i find the owner, shes 55 years plus, has owned the car for 8 years, an its her daily driver, she tells me the MOT is due end of the month...an how much would i pay for her car...I dont talk numbers/money with her, just laugh an say, "As long as you dont wants 1000's for it, i may be interested, lets see how it goes for its MOT".

I "Slip her" my phone number an 1st name, shake her hand, jump back into my Harlot (Starlet)...an drive back to work.

Will she call me back? I doubt it...................................but you never know your luck.

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1 minute ago, bezzabsa said:

offer without MOT would shirley be cheaper...and better for her as she doesnt have to throw it through one

 

Ordinarily, that would be a good/better option...but dont forget, it wasnt up for sale, its her 8 years/daily driver, so, she probably loves her G6.

It will no doubt pass its MOT, an she will carry on driving it.

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Just now, volvoman said:

Ordinarily, that would be a good/better option...but dont forget, it wasnt up for sale, its her 8 years/daily driver, so, she probably loves her G6.

It will no doubt pass its MOT, an she will carry on driving it.

Oh yeah LOL.........good point

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I’ve never had the balls to do this. Probably missed out on stuff as a consequence but I just think I’ll look a bit of a twat doing it!

The other thing is of course, I don’t like it one bit when people do it to me. I’ve had loads of people knock the door about my cars but it really worries me someone’s been nosying down my drive and then coming in to look/ask about it. I’m sure with most people it’s innocent enough or genuine interest in the cars but you just don’t know these days.

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7 minutes ago, Kiltox said:

“If it was for sale it’d have a sign on it, fuck off!”

I’m surprised anyone ever gets a response other than this. 

There used to be a guy near here with a Cortina on his drive. One day I walked past and there was a sign in the windscreen saying ‘no, it’s not for sale so don’t fucking ask’! People must have been bothering him rotten over it!

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9 minutes ago, Kiltox said:

“If it was for sale it’d have a sign on it, fuck off!”

I’m surprised anyone ever gets a response other than this. 

I occasionally get people asking if any of the cars outside my place are for sale.

They all get a curt "No" usually followed by me staring at them until they leave.

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2 hours ago, Mr_Bo11ox said:

I think you did that exactly right. Fingers crossed for you!!

Cheers, yeah, i didnt want to appear too keen, i was just relaxed about it.

2 hours ago, danthecapriman said:

I’ve never had the balls to do this. Probably missed out on stuff as a consequence but I just think I’ll look a bit of a twat doing it!

The other thing is of course, I don’t like it one bit when people do it to me. I’ve had loads of people knock the door about my cars but it really worries me someone’s been nosying down my drive and then coming in to look/ask about it. I’m sure with most people it’s innocent enough or genuine interest in the cars but you just don’t know these days.

Im mid 50's, ive been knocking/calling for stuff since the late 1980's. Ive never had any grief off of anyone..............but then, i do come across as polite as fuck.

My youngest son is really shy, im hoping to get him to come out of his shell, an just talk to complete strangers, so ive had him join me, on a few knocks, show him the ropes an stuff.

This Corolla was parked in front of shops/businesses...the owner was well spoken/had plenty of money..............you have to choose the right situations...Im not gonna knock for anything in a rough as fuck area.................although, i bought a nice antique bookcase off a woman in a rough area...but thats another story

1 hour ago, Kiltox said:

“If it was for sale it’d have a sign on it, fuck off!”

I’m surprised anyone ever gets a response other than this. 

I tend to greet people, as they greet me..................people find it hard to show aggression, towards politeness.

1 hour ago, skattrd said:

I occasionally get people asking if any of the cars outside my place are for sale.

They all get a curt "No" usually followed by me staring at them until they leave.

Ive had people ask about my cars(on my drive in the past)...its just one of those things.

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I used to know a lad who was brilliant at picking up free cars by knocking on people's doors.  On one occasion he'd come with me to drop off a Saab 99 at a localish Saab specialist.  After dropping it off we realised that we'd missed the last bus back to Norwich.  I was grumbling somewhat about the 6 mile walk back to Norwich, but his response was "don't worry, we'll probably find a car on the way back".

In the next village we stopped at the Spar shop, and he spotted a MK1 Panda parked down the side of the shop looking a bit sorry for itself.  Matey went into the shop and came out 10 minutes later with the keys and logbook for the Panda.  We jumped in and he drove it back to Norwich.  Clutch was slipping like a twat and it had no T&T, but it saved us a walk... 

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55 minutes ago, overrun said:

I knocked about a UK twin turbo manual mk4 Supra that never moves, and got the fuck off, once!

Poor thing is sitting there going pink and rusty, sinking into the ground, outside of the last house in a street where they have all been knocked down.

 As you know, you will never know, unless you ask......you dont ask, you dont get.......................Whats the worst that can happen???...I guess, maybe someone set the dogs on your ass.

 

I knocked for a GLS Starlet late last year (it was red too, it matched my Starlet)...the guy asked his wife to come out and look at both cars next to each other (yes, i had the balls to park in his feckin driveway)...they laughed at both red Starlets next to each other. I asked him to remove all the shit out of his car (politely) charge up the battery, an i would be back in the morning to buy/collect. He even put some petrol in it...I asked him if he wouldnt mind driving the car 4 miles to my house, he said no problems.

I had watched that car for about 6 months, it had only moved once on the driveway...It was in a very nice area, hence me having the cheek to park on his driveway.

He was only too happy, that someone was able to buy this Starlet (it had no MOT) and make use of it.

Each situation is different...it helps if you can "read" people...I tend to get people laughing, put them at ease, crack a few jokes............................then kick em in the nuts over their price.?

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I found my Croma when I went to collect a camera I’d bought off eBay, asked the camera sellers if it was theirs and if they were interested in selling it. They hadn’t actively tried to sell it anywhere but they were open to the idea, 3 weeks later it was mine. I left a note on an old giffers Carlton which has been parked a few streets from me for years but have heard nothing back, they tend to be more suspicious of me being a young lad even though I’m far from intimidating. I pegged him peaking out the curtains as I walked away, should of probably knocked!

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I remember seeing a down at heel Wolseley 6/110 Mk. I in a garden in Norfolk towards the end of the nineties. Didn't go past often but every time I did there it was, never turned a wheel and rapidly developing a mossy patch around it. One day curiosity got the better of me and I walked up the path and knocked on the door to be met by an old dear with an ostentatiously loaded shotgun. The car, it appeared, was not for sale. Never went back.. 

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25 minutes ago, volvoman said:

 

 As you know, you will never know, unless you ask......you dont ask, you dont get.......................Whats the worst that can happen???...I guess, maybe someone set the dogs on your ass.

 

I knocked for a GLS Starlet late last year (it was red too, it matched my Starlet)...the guy asked his wife to come out and look at both cars next to each other (yes, i had the balls to park in his feckin driveway)...they laughed at both red Starlets next to each other. I asked him to remove all the shit out of his car (politely) charge up the battery, an i would be back in the morning to buy/collect. He even put some petrol in it...I asked him if he wouldnt mind driving the car 4 miles to my house, he said no problems.

I had watched that car for about 6 months, it had only moved once on the driveway...It was in a very nice area, hence me having the cheek to park on his driveway.

He was only too happy, that someone was able to buy this Starlet (it had no MOT) and make use of it.

Each situation is different...it helps if you can "read" people...I tend to get people laughing, put them at ease, crack a few jokes............................then kick em in the nuts over their price.?

 

Nice work, mate! As they say, shy bairns get nowt.

I already had the heads up that this bloke was a right grumpy bastard, and a miser, so I was always onto a loser.

But, you gotta try!

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I pulled over and had a good look at a bolloxed car once. The bonnet was not closed properly, flat tyres and parked at the side of the queens highway.

so I popped the hood to find half an engine missing

A neighbour of the owner came around whilst I was shufftying.  I left my number with him.  Got a call a few days later and bought the car

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You’re all lucky, all I get is dodgy rag bone types asking if my cars are for scrap....... cheeky fuckers

 

had one set of lads asking if my D1 landrover off-roader was for sale, i told them to kindly piss off as it’s worth more in bits than it is complete. 
 

ive only ever knocked on for a motor on behalf of a good friend. It was a white Lada kossak 4x4 ungraciously rotting away on someone’s driveway. Turned out the woman that answered was seeing a bloke I kinda knew of. I left my number but heard nothing back. That kossak and the rest of the shite that was on the drive all got cleared off when they refurbished. Don’t know what happened to it. 

 

 

 

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I drive past a great old car everyday, semi-hidden behind a newer daily...  Trying to build up the courage to 'knock-on'!  Would have left a note on it by now if it was parked up closer to the street, but it's up around the side/back of the house.  It's an old Audi estate (not great with the model numbers... the huge one!  Actually, someone's got one on here recently with a blue velour interior?), anyway, it's dark green with a quattro badge in the grille... much want.

Think the best bet would be to pull up on a nice sunny day in my slightly less old Audi, at least look like an enthusiast!  Maybe put a letter through the door.

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I used to do this all the time in the early 80's , in fact I wouldn't go to the scrappie for bits, I'd trawl the estates for a complete car then scrap what I didn't want. 

My best result was a 1967 Mercedes 300 SEL that not only had 4 flat tyres but the air suspension was collapsed too , the bodywork was literally sunk into the Tarmac . A knock on the door £100 changed hands , a couple of big batteries and 2 sets of leads to 24volt it and it soon burst into life , the suspension pump worked luckily and it rose shakily enough to get a trolley Jack under it . A set of Granada wheels were bolted on and I drove it home. Once home I taped some rubber floor mats around the air reservoir thing to try and keep a bit in the system and I drove it around for a month or so, always jumping it to start and two battery chargers permantly ready to go . I never got stopped once and this was in the days when there were Coppers to stop you, it's OK though I had an emergency MOT in my pocket ready to be filled out.

A bloke knocked on the door because he wanted the stack lights for his 280S  and offered £250 , needless to say he drove way in it.

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There's no real right or wrong answer here - but being able to 'read' folk is a definite plus.

I've had people approach me a few times about my cars; sometimes I've been thinking about moving them on, sometimes not. Okay, so they've mostly been scrap dealers - but I've never had much bother selling a car on, even if only for parts,

I've approached a few people with interesting cars over the years, though mostly just to chat about their fine steed. Generally people seem happy to talk; if the car seems decent and the owner seems on the level, I don't think it's too impertinent to pass them my number "just in case you're ever thinking of selling it".

I know I'd sooner ring someone I've previously met, than have to place an online ad and deal with the ever-charming* and reliable* general public.

No-one's ever taken me up on it, mind, so maybe I'm flattering myself.

But! I seem to recall @R9UKE of this parish had a bit of a win last year via some speculative door-knocking... a one-owner Volvo 940 that was mere hours away from being lifted by the scrapman.

As I recall, the owner had had to quit driving due to health issues and the car was out of MOT after failing on emissions - and there seemed to be no other option but the metal recycler, until our shite hero came rapping at the door. The owner and his wife were delighted at the thought that the car would live on with an enthusiast. As far as I know, he still has it too.

So there's always a best-case scenario to inspire!

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I’ve done the knocking thing, I’ve also had folks asking if my stuff was for sale. Back in about 2001 ish I managed to buy a 2nd gen 1977 Camaro with a big block olds 403 in it. I got lucky, the woman had split with her ex, he wanted rid, she wanted rid.... 500 quid later, job done. You just have to try it sometimes.


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I used to regularly drive past a sorry looking Bond Bug festering on a driveway in Rainham Kent.

At the time i had two Bugs and thought a third would be useful for parts so knocked one day but there was no answer so i left a card through the door and got a call a few days later saying it was mine for free if i took it complete and didn't bugger about.

Collecting it was a rght chore as it had no rear half shafts fitted and so had to be slowly dragged on to the trailer and to be honest most of its chassis where the rear trailing arms fixed was totally rotted away and beyond any hope.

In hindsight i should of left it there.

 

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I usually get the "I'm going to do it up"...Or "Oh I know what these (insert car name here) are worth.."

usually the vehicles are slowly turning into rust or haven't moved since God was a toddler

Know to a series 3 L/R that hasnt moved for close to 30 years...thats one of the "I know what its worth" brigade.......

he DID have a mini city in front of the Landy....I presume he swept that up as over the years it get lower to the ground, till the roof bowed onto the bonnet...that was his "Fix it up" car...Blokes a twat, has a house that would make Steptoe blush.......w*nker!!

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This is how I ended up with my second 9000.

Spied it on a driveway, kept popping past to check it never moved (didn't look like it did). 

Then one day I went past and there was a chap outside.  I thought I'd chance it.  It turns out it wasn't his, he was just there doing some work on the property, but was a family friend.  I left my nymber and voila that evening I had a call. "We're in the process of clearing the property and we were going to send it for scrap.  if you want it pay me what the scrap man offered and it's yours!" Helps that we turned up in our 9000 I think.  He even threw a bunch of tools and spares in that he had found. 

When I was a kid I collected tax discs, I used to go up to random strangers "I've noticed you've got some out of date tax discs behind your current one, I collect tax discs please could I have them to add to my collection" Worked more often than not. That was the 90s though, wouldn't work these days... mainly because there are no tax discs!!

I'll do it again for sure... in fact I've spied a 2CV which hasn't moved for ages in a driveway on my gran's road... that'll be my next knock on the door job. Or that Yugo Sana in Birkenhead...

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This is how I ended up with my second 9000.
Spied it on a driveway, kept popping past to check it never moved (didn't look like it did). 
Then one day I went past and there was a chap outside.  I thought I'd chance it.  It turns out it wasn't his, he was just there doing some work on the property, but was a family friend.  I left my nymber and voila that evening I had a call. "We're in the process of clearing the property and we were going to send it for scrap.  if you want it pay me what the scrap man offered and it's yours!" Helps that we turned up in our 9000 I think.  He even threw a bunch of tools and spares in that he had found. 
When I was a kid I collected tax discs, I used to go up to random strangers "I've noticed you've got some out of date tax discs behind your current one, I collect tax discs please could I have them to add to my collection" Worked more often than not. That was the 90s though, wouldn't work these days... mainly because there are no tax discs!!
I'll do it again for sure... in fact I've spied a 2CV which hasn't moved for ages in a driveway on my gran's road... that'll be my next knock on the door job. Or that Yugo Sana in Birkenhead...
Smoll FL's still after a 2cv if you have any luck!!

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